[quote="Rare"]Thanks, Gunther. Do you have info about the 498th Forward Support Battalion [A Co. Trans., B Co. Maint., C Co. Medical].[/quote]

[center][b]Forward Support Battalion (FSB)[/b][/center]

The FSB is the Administrative and Logistical support for the Brigade. They operate out of the Brigade Support Area (BSA). The Brigade S1 (Personnel Officer) and S4 (Logistics Officer) work in the Administrative and Logistics Operations Center (ALOC) which acts as the Command and Control node for all Administrative and Logistics activity within the Brigade. As a side note, the ALOC is also referred to as the Brigade Command Post (REAR). If the Brigade's MAIN Command Post was somehow eliminated by a Spetsnaz or Airborne Raid, the Brigade ALOC becomes the MAIN Command Post (CP). 

The Brigade Support Area (BSA) is anywhere from 30 to 50 kilometers behind the Forward Edge of the Battle Area (FEBA). The Brigade MAIN CP is 15 - 30 Km behind the FEBA. The Battalion's Combat Trains is located 5 - 15 Km behind the FEBA. A division also has a Division MAIN CP which is located ~30 Km behind the FEBA and a Division Support Area located 50 - 100 Km behinds the FEBA. The DSA resembles the BSA, but larger. Whereas the FSB consists of A company for Transportation, B for Maintenance and C for Medical, the MSB consists of D company for Transportation, E for Maintenance and F for Medical support.

As I alluded to earlier, these rear echelon support areas or operational command and control nodes would be excellent targets for company or battalion sized airborne infantry or spetsnaz raids. Armies typically send their best troops against the enemy's least prepared soldiers. Cooks, Medics, Mechanics, Truck Drivers and clerks are not the best combat soldiers, but as soldiers, they are expected to occupy fighting positions in their designated section of the perimeter in the event of a raid or attack.

 The ALOC is a large network of tents in the center of the BSA. The three companies of the FSB are spread out around the ALOC. They take up three quarters of the terrain in the BSA. The fourth quarter of the BSA consists of the Maneuver Battalion's Field Trains. The Field Trains consist of the Mess Sections (cooks), Maintenance Platoons and Supply Sergeants from each company and Battalion. Since the maneuver Battalions have 5 or 6 companies, there will be 5 or 6 supply sergeants, 6 Mobile Kitchen Trailers (MKTs) and the battalion's 100-man Maintenance Platoon. The Maintenance Platoon has a POL Section including six Fuel Tankers for resupplying the Battalion's Tanks.

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/1p14ayC.png?1[/IMG]

[b][u]The Forward Support Battalion[/u][/b]
A Company is the Transportation Company for the Brigade. This Company consists of two platoons of [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M939_Truck]M939 five-ton trucks[/url] and one platoon of [url= http://olive-drab.com/idphoto/id_photos_m818.php]M931 or M818 5-ton 6x6 tractor trailers[/url]. They also have a heavy lift section consisting of fork trucks and a maintenance platoon. Each of these three platoons has 20 trucks in them.

A Company hauls anything and everything the Brigade S4 asks them to move. Their primary job is to pick up Basic Loads of Ammunition for the Entire Brigade. This is ammo for the three maneuver battalions, the Cav Troop, the Field Artillery, the MPs, the Aviation unit, and all the other Combat Service Support units in the Brigade. They then divide it all up in the BSA, palletized by unit. It is stored in the BSA until a unit requests it. Then the unit either comes and picks it up or an A Company squad carries it halfway and transfers the load to a Battalion's Support Platoon.

[b][u]Class III (ammunition)[/u][/b]
Every Maneuver Battalion and Company is issued two Basic Loads of Ammunition (BLA). One is issued to the soldiers in the Assembly Area (AA) to carry into the field with him and the second is loaded on the Battalion's Support Platoon. The Support Platoon is retained in the Battalion's Combat Trains located about 5 - 15 Km behind the FEBA. As a company consumes its ammunition, it requests Class III resupply from the CBT TNS. The Support Platoon trucks the ammo forward and gives it to the units. The S4 requests a Class III resupply from the Brigade S4 at the Brigade ALOC in the BSA. Either the battalion support platoon drives all the way back to the BSA to pick it up or A/498 trucks it hall the distance to the BN SPT Plt and then they transfer the ammo to the receiving unit. That support platoon then holds onto it in the combat trains until it is needed. A/498 and the Brigade S4 then request additional Class III materials from the Division G4 and A Company goes to pick it up. They will go to an ammunition holding area or possibly to the port where the ammo was delivered at.

[b][u]Class I (Food, water & trash) [/u][/b]
Meals are prepared in the MKTs in the Field Trains. One Kitchen Trailer supports one company. Every company in the Brigade has its own MKT which is owned by the battalion's Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC). Food is requested through the Brigade S4 and picked up by the owning kitchen at a food storage facility located somewhere in the rear area. 

Most units operate on a A - C - A schedule. What this means, is the Mess sections prepare morning meal and an evening meal out of the MKTs. The food is packed up in [url=http://go-armynavy.com/military-surplus/old-favorites/ammo-boxes/us-military-mermite-cans.html]Mermites[/url]. The unit's supply sergeant and supply clerk pick up the mermites in their 2-1/2 ton truck and deliver the food to the unit wherever they are located. The C Ration or Meal, Ready to Eat (MRE) is usually stored on the supply sergeant's deuce and a half and issued to the soldiers in the field when they receive their breakfast meal. Many soldiers will refrain from eating all of their MRE, keeping a cache of MRE parts in their rucksack. They do this in anticipation of problems in the Kitchen trailers or with the First sergeant trying to get the food to them. Especially in combat, there are many variables that can prevent the 1SG and supply sgt in delivering meals.

Meals are classified in three codes. The letter A refers to a hot meal prepared in a kitchen. The meal may be served on paper plates and eaten with plastic forks, but it is still a "Hot A". The letter B generally refers to a meal served cold. It usually consists of a sandwich and a bag of chips and/or a piece of fruit. A C Ration is a vacuum packaged meal put together in a factory containing all the necessary portions for a meal. The C Ration is the easiest meal to serve and is issued by the supply sergeants, rather than the Mess section.

Any trash the unit accumulates is returned to the BSA on teh Supply truck and then evacuated by civilian contractor daily from the BSA. Water is towed forward in a [url=http://www.armyproperty.com/Equipment-Info/Water-Buffalo.htm]water trailer[/url] or affectionately known as a "Water buffalo" and soldiers are permitted to fill canteens and Jerry cans as needed.

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/1RMpCN2.png?1[/IMG]

[u][b]Class V (Fuel) [/u][/b]
Every Maintenance Platoon has a POL Section which has a number of trucks depending on the number of companies in the battalion. So, if a battalion has six companies, there are six [url= http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M970]fuel tankers[/url]. Often times, the 1SG will escort a fuel tanker forward from the BSA to his unit in the field and conduct refueling operations behind one terrain feature away from the enemy. Vehicles are pulled off the line by platoon, go to the refuel point, take on fuel and then return to their positions. They may also get a meal when they get fuel if the 1SG coordinates refuel with a mealtime.

[u][b]Class IV Barrier materials[/u][/b]
A/498 FSB will deliver barrier materials to the Unit on the FEBA, free of charge. ;)
This could include concertina wire, 2x4, plywood, stakes, corrugated steel or what have you. They would also deliver Class III barrier materials like Anti Tank Mines and Anti-personnel explosives of all types. Typically, a unit will coordinate the delivery of barrier material with the presence of an Engineer/Pioneer unit.

[u][b]Vehicle evacuation/recovery[/u][/b]
As vehicles break down or suffer battle damage, they are evacuated from the battlefield by the most expeditious means available. The battalion maintenance platoon has an evacuation section consisting of six wreckers, one for each company. To haul an M113 APC, we use the [url=http://www.inetres.com/gp/military/cv/eng/M578.html]M578 Vehicle Track Retreiver[/url]. To haul M60 Main Battle Tanks, we have the [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M88_Recovery_Vehicle]M88 Recovery Vehicle[/url]. A unit can also recover a damaged vehicle with a [url=http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n289/mrdibbles/TowBar002.jpg]tow bar[/url] attached between two similar sized vehicles. 

When a vehicle is evacuated from the battlefield, the first place it goes is to the owning unit's Field Trains. The mechanics there will inspect the damage and determine if it is a repair they can make. If it is, they fix it up and send it right back to the owning unit as soon as possible (ASAP). If they cannot, the vehicle is sent to B Company, 489th FSB. If the B/489 can fix it, they do and send it right back to the field trains. From there, it is sent back to the owning unit. If B/489 cannot fix it, they send it to E/MSB. If the Division Main Support Maint unit can fix it, they do and send it back to the field trains. If not, it gets shipped back to Depot, the factory or wherever the US has contracted to overhaul battle damaged equipment.

Any Class VII End Item, like a truck, tank, rifle, fuel tanker or APC that is damaged so badly that it is evacuated outside the BSA, the unit's supply sergeant will request a replacement through the S4/G4 supply channels. 

If a vehicle cannot be recovered due to battle damage because the enemy has overran the position and the vehicle is deemed unrecoverable, then the supply sergeant must take witness statements from those who may know what happened to it and then request a replacement through supply channels. The witness statements accompany the request form (DA form 2765-1).

[u][b]Casualty Evacuation[/u][/b]
Every rifle platoon in the US Army has a line medic accompanying them. Every Armor Company has 2 or 3 medics located just behind the line at the Company Command Post. The medics do not ride on the tanks with the crews. Every Battalion has an evacuation section within the medical platoon. If the battalion has six companies, there are six ambulances, one for each company. You will find this ambulance behind the FEBA prepared to evacuate casualties to the Battalion Aid Station (BAS).

Every Company will designate a casualty collection point and a KIA collection point. These two locations should be separated by as much terrain as possible within the Company AO. Never let WIAs ride with KIAs anywhere at anytime. The ambulance carries casualties back to the BAS where the rest of the battalion's medical platoon is located in the combat trains. The BAS consists of one doctor, one triage NCO, the PSG and 2 or 3 medics. They can perform simple health care tasks. IF they can fix someone up, they do and send them right back to the front. If they cannot, there is an evacuation ambulance from C Company 489th FSB standing by in the battalin's combat trains waiting to carry casualties to the BSA. 

"Charlie Med" is the casual term for the FSB's C Company. Charlie Med has field surgeons, nurses and several other healthcare professionals. If they can fix someone up, they do so and send them back. They do not have beds to hold patients for a long period of time. If casualties require long extended medical visits they may be shipped either to F Company in the Division's MSB or to the Corps Level Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) unit where that may be.

[u][b]Replacement Process[/u][/b]
As soldiers are WIA or KIA and shortages exist on company rosters, these shortages are reported to the Battalion S1. The S1 then compiles a list of shortages by MOS and rank. This report is then submitted on a daily basis to the Brigade S1. The Brigade S1 then compiles a similar report which he sends to the Division G1.

As replacements flow into country or the Theatre of Operations, the Theatre Replacement Detachment will issue orders sending large groups of soldiers based on rank and MOS to each of the Divisions or subordinate commands requiring replacements. Five bus loads of troops might get on busses at Theatre and drive to the Division MSA. Once there, the S1 will assign soldiers to various battalions and brigades within the Division. A bus load of soldiers will then arrive in the BSA, where our friendly Brigade S1 will assign soldiers to various battalions and companies. From there, they walk to the field trains and catch a ride from A/498 or from the Battalion's vehicle out to their assigned unit.

KIAs are evacuated out of company and Battalion Areas of Operation by the unit supply sergeants. They are collected in the Division Support Area, bypassing the battalion trains and the BSA. Once collected the Division's Graves Registration Unit processes paperwork on them and they are shipped back to the states and to wherever they came from to be disposed of per their family's instructions.

[b][u]Battalion and Brigade Staff Officers[/u][/b]
S1 - Personnel Officer is responsible for replacements, Personnel records, Awards, Promotions, Evaluation reports and Religious services.
S2 - Intelligence Officer works in the MAIN CP with the Assistant Operations Officer. The S2 controls the Reconnaissance assets. They report their observations to the S2. The S2 analyzes enemy intell and formulates a Most Probable Course of Action (MPCoA) for the Operations section. He also analyzes the terrain and constructs an Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield to include terrain. The S2 also serves as the Battalion's weather man.
S3 - Operations Officer plans all operations which would eventually be approved by the Battalion Commander. The Operations Officer rides his own tank in an Armor Battalion and serves as the Commander' Wingman.
Asst. S3 - Assistant Operations Officer works with the S2 in the MAIN CP and works for the S3. He tracks all current operations in the CP.
S4 - Supply and Logistics Officer runs the Combat Trains at Battalion level and runs the Brigade Support Area (BSA) at Brigade Level. The S4 handles all supplies into the battalion/Brigade.
S5 - Civilian/Military Cooperation Officer (CIMIC) handles all Public Affairs issues.
S6 - Communications Officer is responsible for all communications in the Battalion/Brigade.

All Battalion Primary Staff Officers are Captains except the S3 who is a Major. 
All Brigade Primary Staff Officers are Majors except the Assist S3 who is a Captain.
Division Primary Staff Officers are referred to as G1, G2, G3, G4, G5 & G6. All Primary Staff at Division level are Lieutenant Colonels. Division Special Staff Officers are either Majors or Captains. The Chief of Staff at Division is a Colonel. The Deputy Commander or Assistant Division Commander is a Brigadier General and the Division Commander is a Major General.